The Den
The Den is a secretive, highly exclusive vice district located deep within the Under of the floating city of New San Francisco. Catering specifically to the wealthy and powerful elites of the topside, it is a cavern of depravity where the darkest human desires are fulfilled far away from the watchful eyes of the general public. While the Cothellon mindmaster Quynn frequently operated within it under the alias of "Den Boss," the true operator of the facility was an exceptionally ugly man named Droth.
Geography and Environment
Access to The Den is heavily restricted. Patrons typically enter from the topside through a hidden elevator located inside a French restaurant called New Claude, situated on Claude Lane. The facility spans a massive vertical access shaft and consists of several distinct, specialized levels:
- The Cardroom: The uppermost level is a gambling hall filled with smoke, green felt tables, and wealthy patrons playing blackjack and poker. It serves high-end, non-transmuted alcohol, including real bourbon, making it a stark contrast to the rest of the Under.
- The Whiproom: Located beneath the cardroom, this massive, rough cement chamber is dedicated to torture and sexual violence. Rich "Gentlemen" pay to abuse captured men and women who are chained to aluminum chairs. The ceiling is clad in stainless-steel plates and crisscrossed with metal rafters, which the Navy's killgirls often use to navigate the room unseen.
- The Huntroom (The Gate Room): Known officially to the Planners as "Den section 6A," this pitch-black chamber contains magical, swirling portals (gates). These portals allowed patrons to travel to the Earth's surface to hunt animals—and potentially humans. The room smells sickly of blood and wet animal musk.
- The Chemroom: A hazy, drug-filled den where patrons and Underkids alike go to escape reality.
- The Sleeprooms: A collection of private, tiny rooms (such as Sleeproom One) featuring plush couches, used for recovery, private encounters, and hiding.
Key Events
The Whiproom Incident
During her first official killgirl mission, Phoenix (Megan) attempts to assassinate targeted Gentlemen from the rafters of the whiproom. When her partner Beam falls and is swarmed by the sadistic patrons, Phoenix is overcome by panic and her forcefinder magic spirals completely out of control. Her errant forcefield bubbles shatter the room's metal support pillars and tear a massive hole in the floor, plunging the victims and the room's contents into the huntroom below and nearly collapsing the entire Den.
The Betrayal
Seeking refuge after the whiproom's destruction, Phoenix climbs down to the chemroom to find Beam. There, she is devastated to discover Beam kissing their Crew leader, Queen. Heartbroken and spotted by the guards, Phoenix flees and is pulled into Sleeproom One by Eric (Quynn), who comforts her—beginning a manipulative, complex relationship.
The Tenderloin Ambush
Years later, the whiproom is rebuilt with reinforced steel beams crossing the floor to prevent mages from destroying it again. Seeking an escape route from the hostile Tenderloin Crew, Phoenix, Beam, and Rylan flee into the brightly lit whiproom. Outnumbered, Phoenix utilizes her magic to blast through the floor once more, dropping them into the huntroom. They manage to escape through a gate to Earth just as Lorelei initiates a total lockdown of the facility, sealing the gates behind thick metal bars.
A Father's Cruel Lesson
In a flashback to three centuries prior, Simon (Quynn) forces his young son, Trey, down the hidden elevator from New Claude into the Den. Wanting to expose Trey to the true depravity of the city, Simon drags the terrified boy through the smoke-filled cardroom and the sickening chemroom. Finally, he takes Trey down to the Gate Room to reveal the magical portals, establishing the twisted reality of the world Trey lives in.